Bill Berloni, who trains dogs for the stage, speaks in Waterford

Published January 24. 2013 12:01AM

None other than legendary director Mike Nichols has this to say about dog trainer Bill Berloni: "(Bill) can do anything you ask, has enormous love for and control of the animals, is kind to them and to humans. He is the best. The one and only."

Berloni began as a dog trainer back with the original "Annie" at the Goodspeed Opera House; Nichols produced the Broadway production of "Annie."

Berloni has come full circle, training the new "Sandys" for the current Broadway revival of "Annie."

In between, his dogs have appeared in stage shows ranging from "Legally Blonde: The Musical" to "Gypsy" to such movies as Nichol's "Charlie Wilson's War."

He also wrote the book "Broadway Tails," published last fall, about rescue dogs who went on to show-business success.

Berloni will talk about his work finding and training rescue dogs during a session Saturday at Waterford Public Library. He'll bring a dog in training as well as film clips of dog "auditions." And copies of his book, naturally, will be available for purchase and signing.